After going snowboarding twice with Caring Cancer Trust giving me the most amazing time of my life, I was then invited back again for a third time! This time, it was for their summer trip, and it meant going back to Morzine which I loved! This was just a few months after going to Morzine to snowboard so I was excited to see how differnt it would be without snow.
This was the first time I had been on the summer trip with the chartiy so I was quite nervous as I didn't really know what to expect. However, when I got to the airport, I was greeted by some of the people I had met on the winter trip so this made me feel so much more relaxed! Shannon and Kirushni from Morzine in the winter were two of the girls and I was so glad because they were such lovely girls!
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| Kirushni, me and Shannon |
We didn't stay in the same chalet we stayed in when we came in the winter. This time, we stayed in a lovely little chalet in the back streets of Morzine owned by a man called Darren and his company Great Escape. The chalet is one of the nicest I have ever stayed in! Inside it is so big with so many different sized bedrooms, a sauna and steam room, a kitchen area, an area where everyone can sit together at tables to eat and a bit living area to just chill. It's such a traditional kind of style of chalet and it makes you feel so at home!
In the chalet, there were two people who worked there who did all our cooking and cleaning. Their names were Emma and Miles. As well as doing their best to look after us in the chalet and make sure we all had a great time, they also came a did a lot of the activities with us which was really great fun! Having a good bond and friendship with chalet staff is one of the things that make you feel right at home.
Unfortuantely, I don't have a picture with Darren, but he was the best host we could have possibly asked for. He did everything he could to make our holiday the best it could have been and he arranged all of our activities for us and took us there every day.
There was one day when we had a thunder storm which meant we werent able to do white water rafting which was planned for that day because it was too dangerous. Instead of just leaving us, Darren spent the whole day figuring out something for us to do.
During the day, we took a trip into the village to do a bit of souvenir shopping whilst the rain was a bit calmer. It was really interesting to see what everything looked like without snow and see some of the slopes we had skied and snowboarded down only a matter of a few months before. It was a nice trips into such a beautiful little village but on the way back, we got VERY wet!
When the thunderstorm finished in the afternoon, he took us down to a foresty walk with his dog. At first, the idea didn't sound great, but he made it so much fun. Throughout the walk, there were little gym type obstacles which he made competitions on which were really fun! For an impromptu activity, it was such a good one! Darren's imagination is one of a kind.
However, as much as fun as this activity was, the activities on the days that it was sunny were just mind blowing! The activities included:
Rock Climbing
Rather than just rock climbing on them fake walls with colourful bits to stand and hold onto, we were able to do proper rock climbing up a cliff face. Whilst one of us were climbing up the rocks, another one of us were at the bottom with their rope attatched round out waist on a pully controlling how safe they were. It was scary putting full trust into someone else but it was so worth it!
White Water Rafting
After this activity being cancelled on the day of the storm, Darren was able to rescheduel it for another day, and thank god he did! White water rafting is such an adrenalin rush and such a buzz! If you ever get the chance to have a go, definitely do it! Unfortuantely, due to the nature of the activity, I don't have any pictures of during it. But here's a picture of our team in all of our gear.
High Ropes
High ropes is a bit tree top course that includes balance beams, zip wires and lots of landing on nets.. It sounds scary, but you know you're safe because you're attatched to safety harnesses and it really is such a fun thing to do! It does take a lot of energy though..
High ropes is a bit tree top course that includes balance beams, zip wires and lots of landing on nets.. It sounds scary, but you know you're safe because you're attatched to safety harnesses and it really is such a fun thing to do! It does take a lot of energy though..
Zip Wiring
One of the days we went to do a zip wire, and it wasn't any normal zip wire, it was the Fantasticable! This is a zip wire that goes over the mountains around 150m high. It is split into two seperate wires, but together makes 1,257m long. You have to wear some harness which allows you to glide down the zip wire hanging on your tummy. You look so silly, but it's comfy and safe!
Tobogganing
As an afternoon activity after zip wiring, we were taking to a toboggan. I've always been a bit scared of these but it was so much fun! Well the second time anyway, the first time I got stuck behind a lady who was so scared she was moving down it as slow as a snail!
Lakes, canoes and Pedalo's
In the week, we got to visit two beautiful lakes. One of them was classed more as a beach because there was sand and the lake was so big we thought it was the sea at first, until we realised we were on top of a mountain and there would be no sea.. At the lakes, we had a chance to sunbathe and relax, play on some canoes and play on some slide pedalos!
All of the activities were absoloutely amazing! However, there was one activity that was kept a secret from us all until we arrived at the place..
Paraglyding!
None of us could actually believe it when we were told we were going to jump off of a mountain with a parachute attatched to us, but it was true! It was honestly the most insane experience of my life! It was such a good afternoon as no one missed out on the fantastic opportunity as everyone, with the encouragement and support of the rest of the group, fought the fear and jumped off that mountain!
Overall, this holiday was a chance in a lifetime and the best week I have ever had! We got to experience the most insane things and we just had such an amazing time! Everyone in this group bonded really well too and there was so much friendship bought from this trip.
None of this however would have been possible with Darren, so thankyou Darren! What an incredible man!
I gained a best friend from this trip. Me and Shannon were friends from the winter we shared together in Morzine, but something on this holiday clicked (we believe it was the night we spent throwing sweet wrappers into a bin together) and we have been best friends ever since.
These holidays really are life changing things. For kids that have gone through such a traumatic experience, these holidays really do help to life up their spirits again and give them their confidence back. Being able to experience things like we have with people who understand exactly what you have been through and what you are feeling is something you just couldn't ask for.
I'm so lucky to be able to experience opportunities like this and meet the amazing people I have met on the way. The Caring Cancer Trust do such an amazing thing and I could never pay them back for what they have given me.
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